October 24, 2024; Seattle, Washington, United States; Winnipeg Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi (13) scores a goal against goalie Joey Daccord (35) during the second period in Local Weather Pledge Enviornment. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Photos
Nikolaj Ehlers scored in 1:26 of overtime to help the Winnipeg Jets, who are the only undefeated team left in the NHL this season, to a 4-3 victory against the host Seattle Kraken on Thursday night.
Nino Niederreiter scored twice and Gabriel Vilardi also scored for the Jets, who improved to 7-0-0 and have won 15 straight regular season games since the end of the 2023-24 campaign. Kyle Connor extended his point streak to seven games with two assists and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made 29 saves.
Matty Beniers returned to Seattle’s top line, scoring his first two goals of the season and adding an assist for the Kraken, who rallied from a two-goal deficit in the final nine minutes of regulation to earn a point in the standings. . Jordan Eberle also scored and Joey Daccord stopped 32 of 36 shots.
Ehlers scored the winning goal after a delayed penalty against the Kraken. His wrist shot from the high slot slipped between Daccord’s right arm and body and slid over the goal line.
The Kraken tied it at 16:38 of the third when Beniers deflected Brandon Montour’s shot from the right post past Hellebuyck.
Eberle scored on a backhander at 11:01 of the third to bring the Kraken within a goal.
Niederreiter’s goal at 4:21 of the third period, just after a power play expired, put the Jets up 3-1. Cole Perfetti threaded a pass through three players to Niederreiter, whose wrist shot from the high slot beat several defenders.
The Kraken outshot Winnipeg 12-7 in the first period and took a 1-0 lead on Beniers’ goal at 11:27, a wrist shot from just inside the top of the left faceoff circle who overtook Hellebuyck to the blocker’s side.
The Jets tied the score at 3:56 of the second. Daccord saved a blocked Mason Appleton shot from the top of the right faceoff circle, but the rebound deflected off Niederreiter’s midsection as the winger headed toward the purple and bounced the puck over the goal line.
Winnipeg took the lead on Vilardi’s goal at 15:05 of the second. Connor, skating toward center ice, kept the puck in the offensive zone and passed it to Mark Scheifele, who sent a pass to an unmarked Vilardi in front of the purple. The striker maneuvered around Daccord and slid a right hand just inside the right post.
–Media at field level
